**Wales Women Make Historic Euros Debut Against the Netherlands: Kick-off, Broadcast Details, and Team Reaction**
A momentous occasion awaits Welsh football as the Wales Women’s national team step onto the big stage of European football for the very first time, facing the Netherlands in their opening fixture at Euro 2025. The clash is scheduled to take place on Saturday, 5 July at the Allmend Stadion in Lucerne, Switzerland, with kick-off at 5pm UK time.
This group stage encounter is not only a sporting contest but also a landmark in the Welsh women’s football journey. Until now, no Wales women’s side has ever competed in a major international tournament. The significance of this achievement is not lost on players or fans—mirroring when the men’s team broke their own 58-year absence from major tournaments at Euro 2016. That iconic run, famously led by Gareth Bale and company, saw Wales reach the semi-finals, igniting a new era for Welsh football.
Now, manager Rhian Wilkinson’s side aims to chart its own course in history. Alongside Poland—also making their tournament bow—Wales stand as debutants in this prestigious competition. Understandably, expectations from outsiders are modest. According to Opta, there is a 71% likelihood forecast that Wales will finish at the foot of their group. Yet, inside the Welsh camp, there is quiet confidence and a resilient mentality.
Defender Gemma Evans, speaking ahead of the match, addressed the doubters and highlighted the team’s determination to defy predictions. “You want to come to a major tournament, and you want to play against the best teams,” Evans told BBC Sport Wales. “We’re OK with how people see us from the outside. As a group, we’re aware of our ability, and we’re comfortable in being overlooked. We believe in what we have and in each other.”
The scale of the challenge is clear. The Netherlands—one of the elite teams in the women’s game—pose a formidable test for the Welsh debutantes. Despite this, head coach Rhian Wilkinson wants fans and neutrals alike to expect an ambitious, fearless performance from her team. “When you watch this Wales team, you’ll see courage,” Wilkinson remarked. “This is a group hungry to compete with the very best in Europe. I feel fortunate to be here at exactly the right time, leading a side ready to make history.”
Wilkinson also praised the supportive structure within the squad, emphasising the positive environment created for growth. “We’ve cultivated a spirit where players aren’t afraid to make mistakes. Pushing beyond their limits is encouraged, not penalised. This freedom is crucial as we test ourselves against the continent’s finest.”
For those eager to follow this historic fixture, the match will be broadcast live on BBC One and S4C for television viewers throughout the UK. Streaming options are available through BBC iPlayer, S4C Clic, and the BBC Sport website, ensuring fans can tune in however they choose.
The anticipation in Wales is palpable, with supporters hoping this summer will be a springboard for further development and greater investment in women’s football back home. While progress has been steady in recent years, major tournament exposure is hoped to inspire a new generation of girls across the nation.
As the team prepares to make its major tournament bow, the sentiments within the camp are clear: they may be perceived as underdogs, but they embrace that role. The combination of youthful optimism, togetherness, and an underdog spirit could make the Welsh women’s Euro 2025 journey one to remember.
The opening match against the Netherlands is not just about the result; it represents the beginning of a new chapter and a potential shift in the sporting landscape for women and girls in Wales. How far this team can go remains to be seen, but their determination to leave a mark on European football is already set in history.